overmaster

English

Etymology

over- +‎ master

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æstə(ɹ)

Verb

overmaster (third-person singular simple present overmasters, present participle overmastering, simple past and past participle overmastered)

1. (transitive) To overpower or overwhelm.
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “An Evening Alone”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 303:

     Sir Jasper started from his chair, ashamed of the sick fancies that had, for the moment, overmastered him.

   • 1897, Bram Stoker, chapter 21, in Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC:

     Did I forget! Shall I ever . . . can I ever! Can any of us ever forget that terrible scene! Mina struggled hard to keep her brave countenance, but the pain overmastered her and she put her hands before her face, and shuddered whilst she moaned.

Anagrams

• overstream